Process of preparing pantothenic acid



Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,234,680 PROCESS OF PREIAACIZgNG PAN'I'O'I'HENIO Marjorie B. Moore, Waukegan, 111., assignor to Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois No Drawing. Application July 22,, 19cc Serial No. 346,8t'l

2 Claims (til. ZGW-hMl) and its synthesis due to its complex structure has presented many dimculties. The presence of various type reactive groups in the molecule, for

example, makes the use of acid chlorides extremely dimcult and as a result the synthesis of the acid particularly in a satisfactory form for use in the therapeutic field has presented the .art with the problem oi. process of preparation.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide the art with a satisfactory process .ior the preparation of pantothenic acid resulting in the synthesis of the acid in the desired form for therapeutic use. 7

Other objects oi the present invention will be apparent as the description proceeds.

l have discovered after an extensive research investigation that pantothenic acid may be prepared in the desired form by heating i. e. fusing,

iii-alanine ilsaiuinomropionic acid) with a membut selected from the group consisting of cry-diilydroxy-fi E-dimethyl-n-butyric acid and whydi'oim-Bli dimethyl butyro 'y lactone. This method (employing the specified butyric acid or related lactouel has demonstrated that it is tree iron the objections found in other processes and to result in a yield 0! final product excellently suited for use in the therapeutic field. The fol-- louinc; eutuuple will serve ior illustrative pur- U Q Example About aroma ii molel oi autumn-on dimetbyl buhuo lactone and about to scams (1 mole) of B-alanine are mixed and gradually heated with occasional stirring Up to about ilt C. crystals or B-alanine are present and there is no sign or chemical reaction-i Around this tem perature (i. e. 178 0.), however. the mixture be 5 gins to bubble vigorously indicating that a chem ical reaction is under Way.

p The temperature oi the reaction iuluture is or dinarily maintained at or preferably above lib" C. for about 15 minutes or longer to complete the m reaction indicated by no further bubbling. The final liquid reaction product which is almost coi orless and does not deposit crystals i. e. remains substantially free from solid material when cooled, may be used directly in the i'orlll obis tained as further treatment or purification is unnecessary. If desired the final acid product may be reacted to form salts e. g. calcium pantothenate, and be administered in such form.

It will be understood that the present inven- 29 tion is not limited to the above illustrative ex ample. All modifications or the present invention are intended to be covered by the following claims. r

I claim:

1. The process of preparing pantothenic acid of the vitamin B complex which comprises iusinu a mixture made up 01 B-alanine and a member selected from the group consisting oi W -dihydroxy-BB-dimethyl -n-butyric acid and why dreary-BB-dimethyl--butyro-'y-lactone.

2. The process oi preparing pautothenic acid oi the vitamin B complex Winch comprises heating a mixture made up oi about molecular pro portions of o-hydroxy -BB-dimethyl=butyro-c/v lactone and E-umino-propionic acid to a, temperature of above 178 C. until complete iusiou oc ours and the resulting liuuid reaction product re mains substantially tree irom solid material on standinu. 4i)

' MARJORM B. MUQRE, 

